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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Album review: The Clark Tracey Quintet - Introducing Emily Masser

Clark Tracey (drums, backing vocals); Emily Masser (vocals); Alex Clarke (tenor/alto sax, flute); Graham Harvey (piano, Rhodes); James Owston (bass).

A Bitta Bittadose: Bobby Watson's composition is introduced by a few bars from Owston's bass which, I was lying in bed at the time, threatened to fast forward me to the Land of Nod. This is no criticism of James but it was so dreamily melodic I was moving into a world where happy little bluebirds sing then - KAPOW! Masser and Clarke come in all guns blazing! Masser scatting like as though she'd invented the genre and Clarke in unison before blowing tenor like well, er, like Alex Clarke and that's a whole lot of tenor playing!

A Sleepin' Bee: Begins slowly and gently before Masser ups the tempo and Clarke blows more booting tenor. Harvey keeps the momentum going with Tracey ensuring it doesn't falter, sharing some drum/tenor exchanges before Masser takes it out. 

Nothing Like You: Just as we used to imagine (probably would still do if we could spell the names) our dream football team this song brings together a dream songwriting team - Bob Dorough and Fran Landesman. I don't know how many songs they collaborated on but even if it was only this one it should be in every jazz singer's repertoire. Of course they'd have to be something special to pull it off. Masser pulls it off. More brilliant tenor by Ms Clarke. You wouldn't want to meet Alex on a dark night at a jam session. 

The Man I Love: Think Annie Ross's Twisted. Masser digs a groove on the same side of the street. Tracey kicks seven shades out of the kit, Harvey makes a brief reference to the melody before Emily returns. At this stage of the album I feel I know them so well I can no longer refer to them other than by their first names!

Passarim: A Jobim number that has Clark chipping in with some backing vocals. Alex blows flute but, compared to the rest, and at the highest level, doesn't quite do it for me.

So Near so Far: Vocal, alto in support, piano solo, more alto, this album just gets better and better. Bass and drums exchange fours before Emily and Alex take it abruptly out. The song came from the pens of Tony Crombie and Benny Green.

Then I'll be Tired of You: Ballad singing at its finest. Ballad tenor playing at its finest. Beautiful - no other word for it.

Suddenly Last Tuesday: One of Jimmy Deuchar's contributions to the Great British Bebop Book. It put the composer, as well as Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes, through their paces back in the day and here it's played even faster and I had to check that my hi-fi (not be confused with wi-fi) hadn't gone into freefall - nobody could scat at this speed! Alex slows it down only slightly although if she'd been driving at this speed on the motorway she'd have been booked. Incredible!

An amazing album. Release date is March 15 but, if you want to buy the album and have it signed by all concerned just head to the Globe in Newcastle where, as part of the Jazz Coop's tenth anniversary celebrations, the band will be playing on April 30.Trust me, this will be one of those gigs you'll tell your grandchildren about! Lance

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